The cage shattered. My scream caught in my throat as the creature surged free.
Steel flashed in a single brutal arc. Gavin’s sword sank into the monster’s slick hide. He ripped the blade out, then stabbed it again. The creature jerked. Its limbs seized, then fell still.
I collapsed onto my back, chest heaving, staring at what was left of the grotesque creature.
“Marin.” Gavin’s voice was hoarse. He pulled me out of the mud and crushed me against him.
My arms wound around his back. He was covered in mud. We both were.A beautiful mess.Gavin was alive. I clung to him as a sob of relief wracked my body.
“Are you hurt?” He rasped against my temple.
“Stop that. Can you think about yourself for five seconds? What about you?” I pulled away, my gaze searching, hands running carefully over his ribs, needing to make sure he wasn’t injured.
He winced but didn’t stop me. I could feel his heartbeat hammering, feel the tension in his muscles, coiled, still on edge.
“No. Just bruised, I think.” He pushed the hair out of my face with muddy fingers. “Five seconds are up.”
“Then give me five more. No ten!”
He smiled faintly, then grimaced, a hiss slipping through his teeth. “Come on. Let’s go. There might be more of those things.”
Gavin scooped up his sword, searched for the rest of our gear, and then reached for my hand. He went still when our palms met and he saw the bright orange goo.
“I saved you with sap,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “Kind of brilliant, if you think about it.”
But his expression didn't change. His jaw ticked, fingers closing around my upper arm as he hauled me away from the creature and further down the path.
“I told you to run. More than once.”
“I heard that. But then you’d be dead, and I wouldn’t have an epic story to tell Annie when we get back.”
“It doesn’t take much to impress a nine-year-old,” he grated, keeping his gaze on our surroundings. “You shouldn’t have risked your life to save mine. That was stupid and reckless. Never do that again.”
I let out a dry laugh. “You said we were partners. That we carry each other’s weight. But you’re angry with me.”
“Yes.”
He turned fast. I took a step back. My boot snapped a branch. My shoulders struck a tree. Gavin followed, planting his hand above my head. His eyes blazed, chest heaving like the air burned in his lungs, and he couldn’t get it out quick enough.
“I’m furious,” he growled. “When it's either you or me…” He leaned in, his mouth near my ear. “I'll take the fall. Every. Damn. Time. That is my weight to carry.Mine.Do not take it from me.”
Then he pushed off the tree and stalked down the path, shoulders tight, footfalls hard against the ground.
I shivered. His words still rang in my ears, adding more cracks to the glass cage around my heart.
But I wasn’t done. I followed on his heels.
“You act like you’re the only one with something to lose!” I shouted, my voice warping in the mist. “You’re wrong. And you’re a hypocrite. You can’t stop me from deciding to help my partner.Though I guess you’re the only one who gets to throw that word around?”
His gaze snapped to mine.
I didn’t back down. I tilted my head in challenge. “Fine. Let’s call it what it is. I saved your life. Without a sword. With grit. And fear. And not a single regret.” I kept going, voice lower now. “That makes me a hero. You should worship me.”
Gavin came to a slow, uneven stop. He swallowed thickly. “What?”
“You heard me.”
His breaths were still unsteady, his body thrumming with leftover adrenaline. I’d only been teasing, hadn’t I?No. Not anymore.I wanted to push. See if I could race across those last few terrifying boards in my mind. Would the bridge snap or hold?
